Push-button switch



May 20 1924.

E. B. NOWOSIELSKI PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed April 18.

Patented May 20, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. N'owosIELsxI, oF ELooMFIEL'n, NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoE To sPLr'rnoEr ELE(IlRICfAIIZ.l COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

rusa-BUTTON SWITCH.

'Appl'icmpn mea Aprn 1s, i923.'l semi nu. eaasss.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD, B. NoWosrE.- SKI, a' citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomfield, in the county of Essex, State 5 of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Push-Button Switches, of W ich the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the ligures of reference marked thereon. y

This inventionrelates to a switch ofthe push button type and is particularly adapted for use in connection with. the control of` the horn circuitused on' an automotive vehicle and as illustrated, the switch is adapted to tin the upper end of the'steering post which carries the operating hand wheel.

It is the principal object' of my invention to' rovide a switch that is easy to operate an amount of current without detriment to the operating'members. l A

While rocuring the above results it is a further object to provide a switch which is relatively simple and cheap to manufacture.

In the drawing, u Figure 1 is a sectional viewyo'n an enlarged scale through the switch.

Figure 2 is a bottom View of the body of the switch shown in Fig. 1 with a section broken away to show certain details.

In the drawin 1 illustrates a casing hav- 'ing an inturned ange 2 at one end. Fitting within the casing 1 1s an insulator 3 of anysuitable material. The insulator 3 has a central bore, preferably of two diameters, in the smaller of which a thimble 4 is somewhat snu ly positioned. Thimble 4 has a liange 5 adapted to fit within the larger part 6 of the .bore and when the lian e 5 rests a ainst the shoulder formed by the bores .of di erent diameters, the end of the. thimble projects beyond the casing 1. The projecting end is preferably threaded at 7 to receive a metali lic plate `8 moulded securely within a push cap 9 of insulating material. The thimble 4 carries a spring 10, the outer end of which rests against a metallic member 1l, which in turn is held against the outer end of the insulator 3' by a disc ty e insulator 12. From Fig. 2 it will be seen t at the insulator 12 laps over the metallic member 11,.wh1ch is preferably formed somewhat like aY clover leaf, the arms resting in indentations 1n the one which will carry a considerable .any detrimental amount of current understood that the entire rim of the casing 1 may be spun over to grip onto the insu- 'lator 12. The insulator 3 has a second bore.

preferably `of two diameters, in the smaller of which is carried a lunger 14 which protrudes beyond the en 'of the casing 1 into contact with'the plate 8. Plunger 14 is provided with a flange 15 which' 1s positioned in the bore of larger diameter and is normally held again-st the shoulder formed by `a bore of smaller diameterfthrough the medium of a spring 16, the outer end of which engages one arm of the metallic member 11. To the plunger 14 is attached an electric conductor, preferably of strands of small copper wire and this lconductor or cable 17 extends through the spring 16 and passes throu h the hole 18 in the member, 11, where it is .astened thereto in any suitable manner as'by soldering.

The member 11 carries .a'screw 19 which is used to connect the terminal wire to the member 11. It is to be understood that the casin 1 acts as one terminalof `the circuit and t e member 11 and its screw'contaet 19 as the other, so that when the push'cap 9 isv operated, the greater portion of the cur.-

Arent is carried through the cable 17, plunger 14, plate 8 to the casing 1. The object, therefore, of the cable 17 being to prevent asslng through the springs 10 and 16, whic if allowed to take place would .change their tension and effect the operation ofthe switch. The cable' 17 and the plunger 14 are, therefore, relied on to carry the most of the current through the switch.

The'thmble 4 is made relatively long and l fits somewhat snugly within the bore provided for it in order that the push cap) 9 will have no tiltingeflfect when operated, ut

rather -will have a longitudinal movement,.

the return of the button 9 being assured by the combined action ofthe springs 10 and 16 together with the plunger 14.

It frequently happens that# the .caps of push buttons of this character are broken, and in order to easily renew one of the caps,

, not wis the screw ararngement as shown in Fig. 1 is preferred, whereby the cap may be removed without dismounting the switch.

A means of holding the switch in position in the steering column is indicated by screw 2O which is adapted to pass through into the steering column into engagement with ai and spring in the other bore, a cap carrying a metallic plate fastened to said thimble in such a manner that said plunger bearsy against said plate, a metallic member for engaging the ends of said springs away from said thimble and plunger with means for making an electrical contact therewith and means for holding said metallic member in position against the end of the insulator.

2. In a device of the class described, a

casing, an insulator positioned within the casing and having two bores, one centrally located and the other spaced awayrom the central bore, ay thimble enclosing a spring in the central bore, and protruding through the insulator, a plunger and s ring in the other bore, said plunger protru ing through thebore on the same end of the insulator as said thimble, a cap carrying a lmetallic plate fastened to the protruding end of said thimble, whereby said -metallic plate is brought into` engagement with said plunger, a metallic member for engaging the ends of said springs which extendaway from said thimble and plunger with means for making an electrical contact with said metallic member, and means including an insulator and 4the rim of the casing for holding said metallic member in position.

3. In a'l device of the classdescribed, a` casing having an inturned iange and an insulator positioned Within the casing and against the flange, said insulator having a .central bore of two diameters with a thimble ositioned in the smaller diameter and hav?y ing a flange positioned in that part for the '1 bore of larger diameter and adapted to en'- 'gage that art ot the bore oi? smaller diam eter, a spring positioned thimble Aand causing it to protrn d of the insulator rest of the casing, a secon spaced apart from v langer positie here oismaii..n -v

the endl bore of larger diameter, a spring positioned in that part of the second bore having the 'larger diameter for causing` the plunger to protrudeI through the same end of the insulater as said thimble, a cap` carrying ame-v vflange positioned in that part of the second A tallic plate fastened to the protruding end oitV said thimble, vwhereby said 'lunger is brought into engagement with said plate, a

metallic member for closing the opening of the bores of larger diameter and for applying tension to said spring,means for making electrical contact tovsaid metallic mmber and means for holding said metallic member in position against the end of said insulator.

4. In a device of the class described, a casing, -an insulator positioned within the casing and having a central bore, a thimblev having a threaded end protruding through one end of the 4insulator with cooperating means between the insulator and thimble for limiting the amount of protrusion, a cap carrying a metal plate having a threaded holel to engage the threaded end of the thimble,

said insulator having a second bore with a plunger positioned therein and protruding through the same end ofthe insulator as sai thimble with cooperating means between the 'insulator and plunger for limiting the amount of its prctrusion, a spring positioned in said thimble a s rino' in the second bore engaging the head of said plunger,a metallic member for closing the ends of said bores and applying tension to said springs, means for fastening said metallic member in place and means for making an electrical connection thereto. l y

, 5. In an electric switch, a casing serving as one terminal of the switch, an insulator positioned withinthe casing, a thimble cen-` trally carried by the insulator and having one end screw threaded 'and adapted to project through one end of the insulator, a push cap having a metallic plate for threadingonto thethreaded -end of said thimble, a

plu-nger carried by the insulator adjacent the thimble and having an ,end projecting through the insulator into engagement with said metallic plate,- a spring having one end positioned in the thimble, a second spring having one end against the plunger, a metallic memberfor engaging the opposite ends oi said springs, means for leiding the metallic member against the end of the insulator and 'means for making a Wire connection ,to

vsaid metallic member.' y

6. In an electric'switch, a casing serving as oney terminalof the switch, an insulator positioned within the casingand having a Wireterminal member iastened in position against l,one enfE of the insulator, means for by f acting ou, W.

lwire terminal member fastened in position against one end oi the insulator, means for completing a circuit from' said terminal member to the casing including' a thimble carried by the insulator and having threaded end projecting beyond the insulator at the end opposite to said terminal member, a push cap carrying a metal plate having a threaded hole to engage the threaded end of the thimble, said plate overlapping said casing and adapted to contact therewith, a spring carried by said thimble and having one end engaging said terminal member to normally keep the plate carried by the push cap out of contact with the end of said casin said thimble being so proportioned and tted in the insulator that the push cap cannot tilt when operated to close a circuit,

8. In an electric switch, a casing serving as onefterminal of the switch, an insulator positioned within the casing and having a wire terminal member fastened in position against one end of the insulator, means for completing a circuit from said terminal member to the casing including; a thimble carried by the insulator and having an end projecting beyond the insulator at the end opposite to said terminalmember, a push cap carrying a metal plate with means for engaging the projecting end of the thimble, said plate overlapping said casingv and adapted to contact'therewith, a spring oariied by said thimble and having one end engaging said terminal member to normally keep the plate carried by the ush cap out of contact with the end of sai casing, and further means for assisting in keeping the push button plate away from the en d of the casing and iii completing said circuit consisting of; a plunger carried by the insulator and having one end projecting into contact with said push cap late and a spring held under stress by said) terminal member and acting against said plunger.

9. In an electric switch, a casing serving as one terminal of the switch, an insulator positioned within the casing and havin a wire terminal member fastened in position against one end of the insulator, means for completing a circuit from said terminal member to the casing including; a thimble carried by the insulator and having a threaded end projecting beyond the insulator at the end opposite to said terminal member, a push cap carrying a metal plate having a threaded hole to engage tlie threaded end of the thimble, said plate overlapping said casing and ada ted to contact therewith, a spring carrie by said thimble and having one end engaging said terminal member to normally keep the plate carried by the push cap out of contact with the end of said casing, said thimble being so proportioned and fitted in the insulator that the push cap cannot tilt when operated to close a circuit, and further means for assisting in keeping the push button plate away from 'the end of the casing and in completing said circuit consisting of; a plunger carried by the insulator and having one end projecting into` contact with said push cap late and a spring held under'stress by said terminal member and acting against said plunger, and a conductor independent of said spring for permanently conneotii'igy saidv terminal member and plunger.

1G. In a device of the class described, a casing having an inturned iiange and an insulator positioned within the casing against the fiange and extending 'to a point near the other end ci the casing with a wire terminal member tting into the insulator at this end, an insulator fitting over the said'terininal member and held in place by punching over the rim of the casing or part thereof, means for completing a circuit from the terminal member to the casing including; a thimble carried by the insulator and having an end projecting beyond the insulator at the end opposite to said terminal member, a push cap carrying a metal plate with means for engaging the projecting end of the thimble, said plate overlapping said casing and ada ted to contact therewith, a spring carriedp by said thimble and having one end engagin said terminal member to normally eep t e plate carried by the push cap out of contact with the end of said casing, and further means for assisting in keeping the push button plate away from the end of the casing and in completin said circuit consistin of; a plunger carrie by the insulator an having one end rojecting into contact with said push cap p ate and a spring held under stress by said terminal member and acting against said plunger.

11. In a device of the class described, a casing having an inturned'flange and an insulator positioned with the casing against the flange and extending to a point near the other end of the casing with a terminal member fitting into the insulator at the end with means for preventing said terminal member from rotatably shifting and means including an insulator and a part of the rim of the casing for holding the said terminal member from shifting laterally, means for completing a circuit from said terminal member to the casing including;v a thimble carried by the insulator and having an end projecting be ond the insulator at the end opposite to said terminal member, a push cap carrying a metal plate with means for engaging the projecting end of the thimble, said. plate overlappin said casing and adapted to contact therewlth, a spring carried by said thimble and having one end engaging said terminal member to normally keep vthe plate carried by the push capout of contact with the end of said casing, and further means for assisting in keeping the push button plate away from the end of the casing and in completing said circuit consisting of;'a plunger carried by the insulator and having one end projecting into contact with said push cap plate and a spring held under stress by said terminal member and acting against said plunger.

In testimony whereof, I affix my si ature.

. EDWARD B. N OVOSIELSKI. 

